Butterfly
The name was originally invented by author Jonathan Swift for his poem Cadenus and Vanessa, created by rearranging the name of his close friend Esther Vanhomrigh. It was later adopted as the name for a genus of butterflies. This single-S spelling is a common variant in Spanish-speaking cultures.
Less common today
Vanesa isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #840 in 1997.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
Spanish Olympic handball player
Spanish singer-songwriter and poet
Spanish actress and model
